Double-acting hinge.



Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

llllllllll l/lu/l/l//l J. A. FISCHER. DOUBLE AGTING HINGE.

APPLIOATION FILED DB0. 12, 190s.

Lg Ill L. l;

J. A. FISCHER.

DOUBLE AGTING HINGE.

APPLIUATION FILED 13,130.12, 1908.

941,239. Patented N0v.23,19o9.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mouwv n. amm ca, rnomumocmrnus. wAsmnnyou. n

JOHN A. FISCHER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

DOUBLE-.ACTING HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application filed December 12, 1908. Serial No. 467,315.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FISCHER, a citizen of United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Acting Hinges; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to hinges and has reference more particularly to double acting spring hinges for doors.

It has for its object a simplification of that type of -hinges, last above mentioned, whereby the number of necessary part-s is reduced to a minimum, the relative cost of manufacture correspondingly decreased, greater general efliciency assured, and advantages obtained, both structural and operative, not heretofore known.

As a further object the present invention contemplates the production of double acting hinges equally applicable to right and left hand doors; hinges that may be instantly converted from spring to springless action; hinges capable of easy adjustment by skilled or unskilled persons alike either before or after a door is hung; hinges the spring action whereof may be instantly adj usted for the purpose of accurately returning the door to any predetermined point in the course of its pivotal movement; and hinges, provided with hand-operated levers accessible at all times, for returning a door to a plane making any predetermined angle with a iixed vertical plane.

As a further object, my invention contemplates the production of hinges, which are equally serviceable upon double or single acting, right or left hand doors; hinges capable of performing' the functions of doorchec ts or closers; and hinges adapted to serve without alteration as door-stops for retaining a door partially open when desired.

The invention will be hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims following.

ln the accompanying drawings which form part of this application, and whereon corresponding numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views: Figure 1 represents in side elevation the eX- terior surface of one of my improved hinges as applied to fragments of a door and door jamb. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through one complete hinge, in t-he plane of the door, showing also a fragment of the door and door jamb. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the invention taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. G is a horizontal section on the line 6 6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is also a horizontal section taken on the line 7 -7, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary edge view of a door jamb with a portion of my invention aiiixed thereto including in front elevation a double acting adjusting lever. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the upper end of said adjusting lever. Fig. 1() is a side elevation of one complete hinge with its outer casing removed. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary edge view of a door showing in front elevation a door-attaching or holding plate. Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view showing diagrammatically a fragment of a door-jamb and door, several adjusted positions of the latter being indicated by dotted lines.

rlhe present invention is clearly exempliied by a single hinge and but one is shown in the accompanying illustrations. Accordingly, one hinge only will be referred to in the following detailed description, but obviously one, two or more may be employed upon a door according to individual requirements.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 10 indicates a door jamb and 11 a door fitted therein. Mortised into the vertical hinge surface of jamb 10 and therein secured as by screws 12 is a main supporting plate 13 from which project horizontally, fixed hinge members 14 and 15, respectively, same being rigidly secured to said plate in any approved manner, as by screws (not shown), by brazing the parts together, or if preferred said plate 13 and fixed hinge members 14-15 may be formed of an integral forging. Both members 14 and 15 are bracketed or offset from the supporting plate 13 as at 16, thus insuring a vertical space 17 for the reception of an adjusting lever 18 pivotally mounted near the upper end of said space as at 19. This lever 18 is-by preference of link shape as best shown by Fig. 8, it may, however, be of any other form, but in any event is provided with a cam surface 20 or its equivalent adapted to normally rest beneath a spring dog 21 having at its free end a tooth or teeth 22, also best shown by Fig. 8, and secured at its opposite end to the plate 13 by a screw and slot connect-ion 23-24 to permit of vertical adjustment and for purposes that will later appear.

InV its preferred construction the lowermost hinge member 15 is cup shaped, having an upstanding continuous flange or sides 25; and the uppermost member 14 is substantially annular' with a downturned continuous flange 2G in' vertical alinement with the aforesaid flange 25. The upper end of the fixed cylindrical hinge member 14 may be closed by a disk or washer 27 seated in an annular shoulder in said hinge member as shown at 28, Fig. 2, and at its rear is provided with a slot 29 into which projects the spring-dog 21 hereinbefore mentioned.

Interposed between the opposing edges or flanges 25-26 of the fixed hinge members 14 15, respectively, and in vertical alinement therewith, is a relatively movable hinge member 30 of cylindrical form hav- .ing upon its outer surface a vertically arranged lane face 31 from which latter project latc i-lugs 32-32, and a horizontal pin or lever 33 aifording one means of attachment for the door 11 to the said movable hinge member 30, as will later appear. Vhile at one side and back of said plane surface 31 near opposite ends thereof the said cylindrical movable hinge member 30 is provided transversely with corresponding and parallel arc shaped slots 34-35 as best shown by Fig. 10, the forward ends of which are enlarged as at 3G to permit the introduction of upper and lower flat-head screws or pins 37-38 respectively, hereinafter referred to.

Concentrically arranged within the movable hinge member 30 is a cylindrical sleeve or hollow pintle 39 extending above and below said member 30, into the fixed hinge members 14 and 15 respectively, upon the bottom of which latter it rests. At its upper end that portion of said cylindrical sleeve or hollow pintle 39 which projects into the fixed hinge member 14, past its slot 29, is milled or serrated vertically upon its outer circumference as at 40, thus adapting it to receive, and be retained in any predetermined position by the teeth 22 of spring dog 21, as will hereinafter appear. The said inner cylindrical sleeve or hollow pintle 39, like the outer cylindrical or relatively movable hinge member 30 is provided with upper and lower transverse arc-shaped slots 41, 42, respectively, corresponding and registering with slots 34 and 35 in the hinge member 30 aforesaid.

Tithin the sleeve or hollow pintle 39 are located upper andV lower spring holders 43 and 44, each having a spring-seat 45 which receives opposite ends of an actuating spring 4G as shown by Fig. 2. The said upper spring holder 43 is tapped and threaded radially at intervals as shown at 47 (seel Fig.

'4) to receive the end of the screw or pin 37 and in like manner the lower or relatively fixed spring holder 44 is tapped and threaded as at 48 (see Fig. 5) to receive the screw or pin 38. The former being designed to not only hold the spring after its tension has been fixed but to afford means for operative connection'wit-h said holder 43 to wind the spring when the door is opened in one direction, while the latter is designed to afford means for operative connection with the holder 44 when the door is opened in the opposite direction to wind the spring from its lower end. These pins 37-38 projecting radially from their respective spring holders 43-44,pass through slots 34-41 and 35-42, in the members 30 and 39 respectively, where they rest in opposite ends of said slots being retained normally in such position by action of the interposed spring 46, as indicated by Fig. 10.

Passing vertically and centrally through disk 27, spring holders 43-44, spring 4G, and threaded into the bottom of the lower hinge member 15, is a bolt 49, which facili- -tates securing the parts together, but which at the same time, is not essential to an operative structure. And, neatly surrounding all parts represented by Fig. 2, is an outer shell or casing which may be of any approved construction, but in the present illustrations (see Fig. 1) is formed of three overlapping sections 50, 51, and 52; the sections 50 and 52 being capped above and below as shown by Fig. 2, the intermediate section 51 being again divided and overlapping vertically as shown by Figs. 2 6, and secured to hinge member 30 by small screws 53, 53, as shown by Fig. 2, or in any other manner.

Mortised into the hinge edge of door 11 is a holding-plate 54 which may be secured by ordinary wood screws 55, beyond is a still deeper pocket 56, and communicating with the latter is an elongated depression or hole 57 for purposes now to appear. rThe said holding plate 54 is provided with rectangular perforations 58, 58 through which, in assembling, is projected the latch-lugs 32, V32 into pocket 5G, the horizontal pin or lever 33 in the meantime entering said hole 57 which, owing to its elongation, permits a slight vertical movement of the door to seat the hold` ing plate 54 upon its coperating latch lugs 32, 32, substantially as shown.

Having thus described my invention, its

use and operation are quite apparent and need not be dwelt upon at length. The parts having been adjusted for the ordinary sillclosing of a double acting door, or a pair of double doors hinged to opposite door ambs, it will now be apparent by reference to the drawings, that a movement of the door to the right for example, as indicated in dotted lines upon Fig. 12, results in a rotary movement of the hinge member 30 and the consequent advancement, as indicated by arrows in Fig'. 4, of the screw 37 carried by the trailing end of the arc-shaped slot 34. As a consequence, spring holder 43 is also rotated to the right as indicated by the central arrow in Fig. 4 thus placing spring 46 under increased tension. Naturally, the reverse action of that last described follows a release of the door, which thereupon is returned by reaction of the spring 46 to the plane of the door-sill, or that position of rest indicated by full lines in Fig. 12. A movement of the door in the opposite direction, or to the left as indicated by dotted lines at top of the said Fig. 12, results in a corresponding movement from the opposite side of its pivotal center, actuated from the opposite end of the actuating spring 4G by agency of the opposite or lower spring holder 44 and its coperating screw 38 carried in the opposite end of lower arc-shaped slot 35, all as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

During the foregoing ordinary uses of the present invention it will be noted that the inner tubular or hollow pintle 39 is retained in fixed relation to the hinge members 14, 15, and the main supporting plate 13, by engagement of the teeth 22 upon spring-dog 21 with the milled upper end 40 of said hollow pintle 39. If now it is desired to totally disconnect the spring 46 from its operative position'between the fixed and relatively movable hinge members, this may be instantly accomplished by a movenient of the hand-operated lever 1S to one side or the other as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. S, .whereupon withdrawal of the cam surface 20, permits spring 21 to assume its normal position and release the milled surface 40 of pintle 39 which is then free to turn idly with the door and its connected parts. If'now it is desired to invariably return the door to some plane making a` predetermined angle of rest with the normal vertical plane of the door, as for example either of those indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 12, the action of lever 18 and coi-acting parts last above referred to is reversed, the door first having been placed in said predetermined position, whereupon the hinge action will be as before described, but to and from the angle of rest newly iixed upon.

ln connection with the operation of hanging doors upon hinges constructed in accordance with the present invention it will be noted that each hinge as it comes from the factory is a self contained structure including the actuating spring 4G properly energized, and the entire structure is neatly inclosed or surrounded by the casing or waterproof closure 50-51-52 of more or less ornamental design and finish. These hinges, including both iixed and relatively movable members, are secured to door jamb 10 by agency of the main supporting plate 13, whereupon the door 11 with its holding plates 54 mortised thereinto as indicated by Fig. 2, is introduced over said hinges, the

projecting latch-lugs 32 of which enter re cesses or 4perforations 58 of the holding plates 54. Upon reaching this position the said plates 54 and door 11 are permitted to drop vertically to the seated position indicated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. whereupon the space or opening thus formed beneath the hinge member 15 is snugly closed by a telescoping downward movement of the casing member 52, same being finally secured by means of a screw 53 entering the said lowermost hinge member 15, as shown by Fig. 2.

Thus it will be noted that hinges constructed and arranged substantially as dcscribed are adaptable to doors of varying thickness, size, and weight, rendering it unnecessary for dealers to carry a variety of sizes to meet the ordinary needs and requirements of the trade; and in like manner the exterior finish may be indefinitely varied by the mere substitution of different outer casing 50-51 and 52. It will also be noted that the central section 51 of the outer shell or casing overlapped and divided vertically as shown, may be removed, independently of the end sections 50 and 52, for the purpose of affording ready access to the springholder 43 by means of which latter the tension of the spring 46 is regulated.

Having thus described my invention in its preferred form of construction, it should be noted that I do not limit myself to the particular form and arrangement of parts hereinbefore set forth; on the contrary various structural changes may be made and various parts substituted for those hereinbefore described without materially departing from the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

What I now claim and desire to secure b v Letters Patent is:

1. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members, of au interposed actuating spring, and means including a lever for operatively connecting said members and spring, substantially as described.

2. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members, of an interposed actuating spring, a tubular pintle surrounding said spring, and locking mechanism for said pintle including a lever llO adapted to o peratively connect said hinge members spring and pintle, substantially as described.

3. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members, of an interposed actuating spring, a tubular pintle surrounding said spring, a dog for locking said pintle against rotation to operatively connect said hinge members spring and pintle, and a lever for actuating said dog, sub` stantially as described.

fl. In a hinge the combination with rel` atively fixed and movable members, the latter provided with transverse slots near opposite ends thereof, a tubular pintle contained within said movable hinge member also transversely slotted, spring holders within said pintle, an actuating spring connecting said holders, pins projecting from said holders through the transverse slots aforesaid, and a lever for operatively connecting said fixed and movable members, substantially as described.

5. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members substantially cylindrical in form, of a tubular pintle contained within the members aforesaid, spring holders and an interposed actuating spring within said pintle, a pin projecting radially from each of said holders to engage and rotate with the movable hinge member, and means for connecting and disconnecting said pintle with a fixed support including a locking device and a hand operated lever to move said device into and out of engagement with said pintle, substantially as described.

6. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members secured respectively to a door and door jamb, of an actuating spring interposed between said hinge members, and means including a lever for operatively connecting said members and spring at a predetermined angle of rest, substantially as described.

7. In a double acting spring hinge the combination with relatively fixed and mov able members secured respectively to a door and door jamb, of an actuating spring interposed between said hinge members, means including a lever for operatively connecting said members, a holding plate affixed to the door, and connections between said plate and hinge members, substantially as described.

S. In a double acting spring hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable hinge members secured respectively to a door and door jamb, of an actuating spring interposed between said hinge members, means including a hand actuated lever for operatively connecting said members at a given angle of rest, a holding plate affixed to the door, and latch lugs projecting from said hinge to engage said holding plate, substantially as described.

9. In a double acting hinge the combina- Y tion with relatively fixed and movable hinge members secured respectively to a door and door jamb, of an actuating spring interposed between said hinge members, means including an exposed lever for operatively connecting said members and normally retaining them at a predetermined angle of rest, and an outer closure for the hinge members made of overlapping watentight sections, substantially as described.Y

10. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable hinge members, of a removable telescoping outer casing or shell covering all of said members, substantially as described.

l1. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members, of an interposed actuating spring, a tubular pintle surrounding said spring having a serrated surface, a dog adaptedto engage the serrated surface of said pintle, and a lever for throwing said dog into or out of engagement, substantially as described.

l2. In a hinge the combination with rela' tively fixed and movable members, of an interposed actuating spring, a tubular pintle surrounding said spring having a serrated surface at its upper end, a flexible dog having a tooth adapted to engage said serrated surface, and a lever adapted to throw the tooth of said dog into engagement with the serrated surface of said pintle, substantially as described.

13. In a hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable members, of an interposed actuating spring, a tubular pintle surrounding said sprinv' having a serrated surface at its upper cned, a dog adapted to engage the said serrated surface, means for adjusting said dog vertically, and a lever for throwing the dog into or out of engage ment with said pintle, substantially as described.

lll. In a double acting hinge the combination with relatively fixed and movable hinge members secured respectively to a door and door jamb, of an actuating spring interposed between said hinge members, a tubular pintle surrounding said spring having a serrated surface, a dog adapted toengage the serrated surface of said pintle, and Y means including an exposed lever having a cam shaped end for forcing Said dog into engagement with said serrated Surface t0 operatively connect said hinge members spring and pintle thus normally retaining them at a predetermined angle of rest, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ax my signa-ture, 1n presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN A. FISCHER.

/Vitnesses:

THOMAS DURANT, WVM. E. DYRE. 

